What is a concussion?

A concussion is a brain injury that can be caused by a blow or jolt to the head and can change the way the brain normally works. Any concussion is serious whether mild or severe. They can also be caused by a blow to the body that causes the head to move rapidly back and forth and causes the brain to strike the surrounding skull. Concussions most often do NOT result in loss of consciousness - only 10% involve loss of consciousness.

Some concussion laws are only applicable to school-sponsored athletics or to activities taking place on school-owned property. Some laws are applicable to all youth sports organizations, whether affiliated or not with a school district. It is strongly recommended that local leagues consult with legal counsel in its jurisdiction to determine the applicability of state laws regarding concussions to its program.

Babe Ruth League, Inc. strongly encourages all leagues and teams to comply with any applicable laws and to review the information and training materials on concussions which are available free of charge on the Centers For Disease Control website at: http://www.cdc.gov/headsup/youthsports/training/index.html